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Definition of Community Development Includes Everyone
In the broadest sense, the definition of community development includes our social and economic well-being, the sustainability of our communities in their current geographic and economic configuration, and the durability and adaptability of our housing stock so that our neighborhood won't suffer from a decline in market appeal and therefore a loss of property value.
In the U.S. a federal program has influenced the definition of community development. Since the passage of the Community Development Act of 1964, the term community development has become almost synonymous with the Community Development Block Grant. Since that program requires that the benefits accrue to people of low and moderate income, an undeserved stigma has been attached to the phrase community development. It's often a good program and one I've managed, but community improvement works across the entire economic spectrum. And international community development has yet another meaning, focused on eradication of extreme poverty and then having the infrastructure and organizing a society that can communicate, sell, and buy globally.
However, retracing the mistakes of the "developed" world isn't necessarily the best way to move forward. World-wide, let's avoid the mistakes that now threaten environmental sustainability, economic stability, and development of a middle class because of a concentration of wealth. >> Back to Top Examples Clarify the Definition of Community DevelopmentWe propose that community development is anything that: • Increases the appeal of a neighborhood to housing buyers or renters • Rapidly recycles obsolete housing or commercial buildings by renovating to meet current trends, redevelopment into a new use, or even a suburban retrofit • Allows community residents to make a better living, over a longer period of time, with ample choices available for career-changers and part-time workers • Uses land wisely, as the scarce and valuable resource that it is • Provides the everyday goods and services that people need within a short distance of all residences, and allows shopping for less routine purchases within a reasonable distance • Cultivates a safe environment • Makes the community accessible to all, whether they can participate in the dominant transportation mode in their society or not • Gives young and old alike ample opportunity for recreation, physical exercise, and exposure to nature • Works with nature to locate key human activities away from environmentally sensitive land, and flood, fire, volcano, seismic, and extreme weather hazards • Increases the capacity of the community to discuss problems and issues openly and resolve them within a reasonable period of time in a democratic fashion • Enhances the visual and sensory appeal of the community (which should be limitless) • Expresses the fact that we value people more than cars or other symbols of our power and control • Pushes us in the direction of an efficient, high quality, transparent government that arranges for the necessary public services and keeps our infrastructure updated • Avoids senseless use of finite natural resources and pollution of our land, water, and air • Organizes a metropolitan or micropolitan area for quick diagnosis of challenges to its competitive edge and fast response to threats from the environment It's a challenging agenda. So you can see that it takes people of all income levels, including low, moderate, and lavish. >> Back to Top More Detail about the Concept of Community DevelopmentA visitor to the site asked about the purpose of community development, and our best try at answering the why question is on the page in the link. If our recent economic problems teach us anything, it should be that no one is immune to the laws of cause and effect. Let's get busy trying to understand community development principles. Then we can reclaim the complexity and richness of the phrase. The page reached by the link above is an illustrated essay based on three in-depth examples. Begin anywhere you like on the site. Use the buttons to the left or the Sitemap. Contribute to the site by contributing community development ideas so we can feature the best quality work that neighborhood volunteers are doing. >> Back to Top Return from Definition of Community Development to Home |
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